Crime/Court

The identify of a woman shot to death in Clear Brook Saturday has been released. / File photo

CLEAR BROOK – Though no other details in the incident have been released, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office has revealed the name of the deceased in a shooting incident that happened over the weekend in northern party of the county.

According to a media release from Captain Aleck Beeman, the deceased female has been identified Shayna E. Lacy, 39, of Bunker Hill, WV. An autopsy was performed on the body at the Medical Examiner’s Office in Prince William County on Monday.

Captain Beeman stated in a previous release that on Saturday evening, at about 9:49 p.m. deputies responded to the 200 block of Ruebuck Lane in Clear Brook for the report of shooting at a residence.

The home owner reported that one or two subjects were trying to break into his home through a bedroom window. He reported to deputies that the suspect broke out the bedroom window and reached inside of it, at which time the home owner reported that he fired one round from his 12-gauge shotgun through the window.

Deputies arriving on scene found a deceased female outside of the residence beneath the bedroom window.

This incident is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and ask for Investigator Beauvais.

Frederick County, VA – On March 3, 2018 at approximately 9:49 p.m. deputies responded to the 200 block of Ruebuck Lane in Clear Brook for the report of shooting at a residence. The owner of the residence reported that one or two subjects were trying to break into his residence through his bedroom window. The suspect broke out the bedroom window and reached inside of the window.

The home owner reported that he fired one round from his 12-gauge shotgun through the window when he saw the suspect’s hands come through the window. When deputies arrived on scene they found a deceased female outside of the residence by the bedroom window.

At this time the deceased female has not been positively identified. The body is scheduled for an autopsy at the state medical examiner’s office on March 5, 2018. This incident is still under investigation and anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to contact the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and ask for Investigator Beauvais.

Anyone with information is requested to call the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office at 540-662-6162, or Crime Solvers at 540-665-TIPS

FRONT ROYAL – A preliminary hearing date of February 27, at 2 p.m. has been set in a felony case revolving around the sale of a personal vehicle by a town employee in the wake of a recent divorce.

Town of Front Royal Public Works Director Carl James “Jimmy” Hannigan Jr. is charged with three counts related to alleged forgery of part of a DMV title and transfer of that title in September of last year. Hannigan was present in Warren County General District Court for the 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 24 docket but was not called for any testimony. After consulting with Hannigan, who declined comment following the brief hearing, his attorney Eric Wiseley addressed his client’s situation.

“Mr. Hannigan went through a nasty divorce last year, and his wife was not happy with the Court’s decision regarding an automobile that belonged to my client. Not happy with the Court’s decision, she filed criminal charges that are a bit overblown. Police investigators handled the matter very professionally, and we look forward to clearing this up before the court.

“At no time did Mr. Hannigan have any intent to defraud anyone, or otherwise act in an inappropriate manner with regard to this car or anything else. I can’t say much more at this time, because for now our focus is on clearing my client’s good name.”

According to Wiseley the vehicle in question was a 1998 Honda C-RV with about 200,000 miles on it.

Frederick County officials are hoping to find whoever is responsible for vandalizing homes and vehicles in the county over the last week. /File photo.

FREDERICK COUNTY, VA. – Deputies have been busy the past week, responding to over two dozen calls of broken windows throughout Frederick County, according to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.

Captain Aleck Beeman stated in a Sunday evening (Jan. 21) media release that incidents have occurred in the Stephens City area, the Senseny Road area, the Clearbrook area, the Northwestern Pike area, and the Front Royal Pike area.

The victims reported finding the window(s) of their vehicle and/or residence had been broken with what appeared to be a BB or pellet gun.

Beeman stated that several victims have reported hearing the window break from the impact. The most recent case involved a woman who was driving when her rear vehicle window was shot out.

Anyone with any information about these incidents is encouraged to contact the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office at 540-662-6162 or contact Crime Solvers at 540-665-TIPS. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and a tip that results in an arrest could lead to a cash reward.

FRONT ROYAL — Rappahannock-Shenandoah-Warren Regional Jail inmate Matthew Perry Michael, who walked away from his work-release job with the Warren County Parks and Recreation Department on Wednesday, Jan. 17, was captured at a Winchester motel Thursday evening.

A Friday morning media release from RSW Superintendent Russell S. Gilkison states that on Jan. 18, “Warren County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Winchester Police Department and Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, located Matthew Perry Michael in a motel room in Winchester, Virginia and took him into custody without incident.”

Matthew Perry Michael, 36, was convicted of Probation Violation on October 16, 2017, by the Warren County Circuit Court and sentenced to 1 year and 11 months, with eight months to serve. He had been following a two-year supervised probation program after receiving a suspended sentence for a Felony Grand Larceny conviction in 2015, according to online court records.

Work Release and Public Work Force was authorized by the Warren County Circuit Court. Michael was scheduled for release on April 24, 2018.

During the course of this investigation additional charges were placed on Michael for communicating in writing to kill or do bodily harm to a family member, a violation of the Virginia State Code 18.2-60.

Investigator Pugh obtained information that Michael was at the Clarion Hotel, located at 711 Millwood Avenue in Winchester VA. With the assistance of Winchester Police Department and Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Michael was taken into custody without incident for the above charge and the outstanding escape charge.

The investigation also identified Albert Byrd, Jr. from Gerrardstown WV and Courtney Rose Barrett from Hagerstown MD as being involved with the escape of Matthew Michael. These subjects were located during the apprehension of Michael and were charged with the following felonies:
18.2-473. Aiding the escape of a prisoner
18.2-22. Conspiracy to commit a felony
18.2-19. Accessory after the fact

Both subjects are being held without bond at Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected. Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Brad Pugh at the Warren County Sheriff’s Office 540-635-7100.

According to Superintendent Gilkison, Michael is now being held without bond on Felony Escape and Felony Threats by Phone. The investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending.

FRONT ROYAL – A Hagerstown, MD. man serving a sentence at the Rappahannock-Shenandoah-Warren Regional Jail apparently walked away from his work-release assignment Wednesday afternoon, according to officials.

A media release from RSW Superintendent Russell S. Gilkison states that on January 17, at around 3:00 p.m., the RSW Regional Jail received notice that RSW Community Custody Work Force inmate Matthew Perry Michael was missing from his work assignment with the Warren County Parks and Recreation Department.

At 6:25 a.m., Michael was transported, along with other Work Force inmates, by Warren County Parks and Recreation personnel to their work assignments at the Warren County Maintenance Shop. The RSW Regional Jail staff was notified around 3:00 p.m. that Michael could not be found. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office was subsequently contacted and a warrant for escape was obtained for Michael.

Matthew Perry Michael, 36, was convicted of Probation Violation on October 16, 2017, by the Warren County Circuit Court and sentenced to 1 year and 11 months, with eight months to serve. He had been following a two-year supervised probation program after receiving a suspended sentence for a Felony Grand Larceny conviction in 2015, according to online court records.

Work Release and Public Work Force was authorized by the Warren County Circuit Court. Michael was scheduled for release on April 24, 2018.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Matthew Michael is encouraged to contact Investigator Brad Pugh at the Warren County Sheriff’s Office at 540-635-4128.

The scene of the crime – the Grand Avenue home Hoyle shared with his mother and victim Warren Howard Ramsey. Photo/Roger Bianchini

FRONT ROYAL – A trial date of September 10 has been set for the start of the murder trial of a Front Royal man accused of shooting his mother’s fiancé last March in the Grand Avenue home they shared. David Glynn Hoyle pled not guilty Wednesday, January 3, to counts of First Degree Murder and the Use of a Firearm in the commission of a felony. A full week of the Warren County Circuit Court docket was set aside for a jury trial.

Hoyle, 32 at the time of the March 27 shooting of 58-year-old Warren Howard Ramsey, faces 20 years to life on the murder charge and a mandatory-minimum of three years on the firearm charge. Hoyle remains incarcerated without bond at RSW Regional Jail.

Wednesday was Hoyle’s second court appearance within two weeks. On December 20, his defense team’s motion to suppress some evidence gathered at the scene in the immediate aftermath of the shooting – including Hoyle’s admission to shooting Ramsey – was denied by Judge Ronald Napier.

Several issues likely to play a pivotal role in a trial, or any potential plea agreement, were alluded to during that December 20 hearing. Under questioning from defense counsel Ryan Nuzzo, one Front Royal Police Officer at the scene testified he was aware from previous interactions that Hoyle had suffered a brain injury at some point in his life.

In seeking suppression of evidence gathered in police interviews with Hoyle at the scene, Nuzzo questioned his client’s ability to comprehend the implications of his waiver of his Miranda right to not answer questions or to have an attorney present for any questioning. Testimony indicated that during questioning by first officers at the scene, Hoyle had nodded affirmatively when asked if he shot Ramsey.

Judge Napier observed from viewing police camera video from the scene that it appeared to him officers were not trying to elicit a confession from Hoyle, but rather trying to get a handle on a very volatile and emotional situation they walked into – a situation that included the possibility there was an armed shooter at the scene or nearby. Police responded to the report of a shooting at the Grand Avenue residence at 10:49 p.m., Monday evening, March 27.

“He seemed upset, in a state of shock,” Front Royal Police Officer Tyler Smith testified of Hoyle’s demeanor at the scene. “I couldn’t stand the torture …I couldn’t take it anymore – but I didn’t want to do that,” Smith testified of Hoyle’s comments to officers.

The police report states that according to an unidentified family member Hoyle walked into the living room where Ramsey was seated on the couch and began shooting without any words being exchanged between the two. During hearings Hoyle’s mother Wanda Horton has been identified as one family member present at the scene with her son when police arrived to a report of a shooting.

In an April hearing in Warren County General District Court, a mental competency evaluation of Hoyle was granted to the defense. Asked by Judge W. Dale Houff if they were going to file an insanity plea on behalf of their client, the defense team of Nuzzo and Tim Coyne indicated they would defer a decision pending the results of any mental evaluations.

RSW Jail mugshot of David Glynn Hoyle shortly after his arrest. Photo/RSW Jail

Frederick County deputies responded to reports of shots fired on Jan. 1, 2018 in the 100 block of Star Tannery Road.

FREDERICK COUNTY, VA – A Warren County man was arrested and charged with reckless handling of a firearm and shooting into an occupied dwelling following an incident just past midnight on New Years Day.

Captain Aleck Beeman, a spokesman for the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office says Michael Priola, 26, of Browntown, was arrested and charged after admitting to firing “around five shots from a .40 caliber pistol.”

Deputies responded to a 12:03 a.m. call in the 100 block of Star Tannery Road for a report of shots fired into a residence.

The victim reported to deputies that neighbors across the street had been firing guns at midnight, after which he found a bullet lying on his kitchen floor. The bullet, Captain Beeman said, had apparently entered the wall, come through the kitchen cabinet and fallen onto the floor.

Deputies then questioned the neighbors, who stated that during a New Year’s Eve gathering, a guest had gone outside and fired several shots from a pistol. Michael Priola, a Warren County resident, stated that he had fired around five shots from a .40 caliber pistol. He was arrested and charged with reckless handling of a firearm and shooting into an occupied dwelling.

Priola was held at the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center until sober and then was released on a $5000 unsecured bond.

Frederick County deputies responded to an armed robbery at the 7-11 on Millwood Ave. Christmas night. /File photo

Frederick County, VA – A 7-11 convenience store on Millwood Pike (U.S. Route 50) was robbed at gunpoint on Christmas night, just after 9:15 p.m. according to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.
Captain Aleck Beeman stated in a media release Tuesday afternoon that the clerk reported that a white female brandishing a silver handgun entered the store and demanded money.

The clerk told deputies she handed over the money from the cash drawer, after which the suspect left the store and ran to Delco Plaza.
The suspect reportedly jumped into the passenger seat of a smaller black truck that was parked in Delco Plaza. The truck left the area heading east on Millwood Pike.

Captain Beeman said no one was injured during the robbery, and an undisclosed amount of money was taken in the alleged incident.

The suspect is described as a white female, approximately five-feet, five inches tall, with a smaller build. She was last seen wearing black pants and coat, a white beanie hat, black sunglasses and a green scarf covering her face.

FRONT ROYAL – An arrest has been made in a rash of church burglaries that occurred over the past few weeks, according to the Front Royal Police Department.

A Thursday media release from Chief K.L. Magalis states that William Roy Foster, 53, of Front Royal has been arrested and charged with several counts each of Breaking and Entering, Possession of Burglary Tools, Larceny, and Trespassing.

The release indicated that Foster was arrested following an in-depth investigation conducted by the Front Royal Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division.

St. John’s Catholic Church, located at 120 W. Main Street reported burglaries on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 and again on Monday December 11, 2017. A bronze box was reportedly stolen during the December 6th burglary and a safe with an undisclosed amount of cash was reported missing following the December 11th break-in.

The First Baptist Church, located at 14 W. First Street also reported a burglary on the morning of December 11, 2017. The release did not disclose if anything was missing from that break-in.

Foster is currently being held at the RSW Regional Jail. Anyone with additional information regarding the burglaries is asked to contact Front Royal Police Detective Marc Ramey at (540) 636-2208.